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Biological Sciences Faculty — Dr. Christopher Martine

Photo of Chris Martine in SUNY Plattsburgh's greenhouseAssociate Professor

As a botanist, I find something fascinating at nearly every turn in my daily life. The world is green and I sure am glad for that. My research interests are based first and foremost in a love for natural history. This broad area of study has underlain my recent investigations and publications, including my work on the evolution of reproductive systems in wild eggplants (Solanum) in northwestern Australia, a long-term survey of post-fire demography in a population of endangered plants (Corema conradii, broom crowberry) in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, and a model-based evaluation of invasive woody plants in New England.

Current projects in my lab include determining the roles played by pollen-collecting bees in establishing and maintaining small populations of rare "bush tomatoes" (Solanum) in the Australian Outback. Related work extends from my recent expedition to northern Australia (with a team that included my colleague, Dr. Dan Vogt), where we gathered information on one recently-described Solanum species and made collections of a second that appears to be a new taxon. Closer to home, I am currently conducting research with students on invasive plant species in the Lake Champlain and Adirondack regions, including European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), wall-lettuce (Mycelis muralis) and crested latesummer mint (Elsholtzia ciliata).

I believe that one of the most important things I can do as a member of the scientific community is to reach out to the public in order to spread the word about the amazing things we discover every day. To that end, I have co-produced a series of botany-related webisodes and I try to find my way into the local schools whenever I can - often in collaboration with our campus Student Chapter of the Botanical Society of America.

Education

  • Ph.D. Botany, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2006
  • M.S. Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 2001
  • B.S. Natural Resource Management, Cook College - Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1996

Teaching Areas

College Service

  • Distinguished Faculty Fellow, Claude J. Clarke Learning Center
  • Curator, SUNY Plattsburgh Herbarium and Conservatory Greenhouse
  • Center for Teaching Excellence Task Force
  • Advisor, SUNY Plattsburgh Student Chapter, Botanical Society of America

Awards

  • SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2011
  • Charles Edwin Bessey Teaching Award, Botanical Society of America, 2010
  • George R. Cooley Award, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, 2005

Research Areas

  • Systematics, taxonomy and reproductive biology of the genus Solanum
  • Using phylogenetic methods to trace the evolution of uncommon breeding systems in plants (e.g. dioecy, andromonoecy, androdioecy)
  • Seedling recruitment and reproduction in pine barrens communities
  • Invasive plant biology
  • Interactions between plants and their pollinators/seed dispersers
  • Floristic projects such as field guides, floras and keys

Recent Publications

  • Books
    • Martine, C.T., R.A. Figley and A. Hansens. 2007. Trees of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic States. Sixth Edition. New Jersey Forest Service, NJDEP: Jackson, NJ.
    • Martine, C.T. and R.A. Figley. 2007. Shrubs and Vines of New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic States. Second Edition. New Jersey Forest Service, NJDEP: Jackson, NJ.
  • Journal Articles
    • Martine, C.T., G.J. Anderson, and D.H. Les. 2009. Gender-bending aubergines: Molecular phylogenetics of cryptically dioecious Solanum in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 22: 107-120.
    • Martine, C.T., S.A. Leicht-Young, P.M. Herron, and A.M. Latimer. 2008. Fifteen woody species with potential for invasiveness in New England. Rhodora 110: 345-353.
    • Martine, C.T. and G.J. Anderson. 2007. Dioecy, pollination, and seed dispersal in Australian spiny Solanum. VIth International Solanaceae Conference: Acta Horticulturae 745: 269-283.
    • Herron, P., C.T. Martine, A. Latimer, and S. Leicht. 2007. Invasive plants and their ecological strategies: a model-based approach to prediction and explanation of woody plant invasion in New England. Diversity and Distributions 13: 633-644.
    • Brennan, K., C.T. Martine, and D.E. Symon. 2006. Solanum sejunctum: A new dioecious species from Kakadu, Northern Territory. The Beagle, records of the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences 22: 1-7.
    • Anderson, G.J., C.T. Martine, J. Prohens, and F. Nuez. 2006. Solanum perlongistylum and S. catilliflorum, new endemic Peruvian species of Solanum, section Basarthrum, are close relatives of the domesticated pepino. Novon 16: 161-167.
    • Martine, C.T., D. Lubertazzi, and A. DuBrul. 2005. The biology of Corema conradii: natural history, reproduction, and observations of a post-fire seedling recruitment. Northeastern Naturalist 12: 267-286.
  • Other Recent Publications
    • L. Bohs and C.T. Martine (editors). 2010. Species descriptions for the Solanaceae Source, an on-line monographic Planetary Biodiversity Inventory project funded by National Science Foundation.
      • Australian species treated (18): Solanum diversiflorum, S. beaugleholei, S. chippendalei, S. clarkiae, S. eburneum, S. heteropodium, S. melanospermum, S. asymmetriphyllum, S. sejunctum, S. cataphractum, S. tundununggae, S. vansittartense, S. dioicum, S. cunninghamii, S. leopoldensis, S. petraeum. S. oedipus, S. phlomoides.
    • Martine, C.T., K.A. Adams, M. Soranno, and J.M. Post. 2009. Little Chazy River Riparian Biodiversity Assessment: Plant Community Survey, 2008 Season Report. The Nature Conservancy Adirondack Chapter/Champlain Valley Program. 56 pp.
  • Published Abstracts (Recent)

Martine Lab Student Projects, 2009-2011

  • Graduate Students (Masters of Science in Natural Science Program):
    • Matt Soranno (completed Fall 2009): Riparian plant community survey, Little Chazy River; with undergraduate Jillian Post [funded with a grant from The Nature Conservancy, Adirondack Chapter]. Co-advisor: Dr. Ken Adams.
    • Myndi Almodovar (Fall 2009-present): 10-year follow-up to a forest restoration attempt in Northwestern Thailand. Collaborator: Dr. Stephen Elliott, Chiang Mai University.
    • Tim Shearman (Fall 2009-present): Long-term comparison of wetland plant communities in Ausable Marsh: 1976-2010. Collaborator: Eileen Allen.
  • Undergraduate Students:
    • Sasha Dow-Kitson (Fall 2009-present): Reproductive biology of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, an aquatic invasive plant in Lake Champlain [funded with a 2010 Undergraduate Research Grant from the Botanical Society of America].
    • Betty Lavoie (Fall 2009 – Summer 2010): Molecular systematics of a potentially new Solanum species from Australia [funded with a 2010 Undergraduate Research Grant from the Botanical Society of America]. Collaborators: Dr. Nic Tippery and Dr. Donald Les, University of Connecticut.
    • Alex Scharf (Fall 2009-present): Cultivation, ploidy level and pollination in a recently described dioecious Solanum species [funded with a 2010 Undergraduate Research Grant from the Botanical Society of America]. Collaborator: Dr. Gregory Anderson, University of Connecticut.
    • Molly Bennett (Fall 2009-Spring 2010): Analysis of Solanum pollen grains collected and ingested by solitary bees in Australia. Co-advisor: Dr. Dan Vogt.
    • Lilly Schelling (Summer 2010): Determining distributions of two native insectivorous plants (Drosera spp.) in Clinton County.
    • Carlee Hammond (Summer 2010): Survey of Elsholtzia ciliata (crested latesummer mint) populations on the Little Ausable River, Adirondack Park.
    • Elisa Rizzie (Summer 2010): Survey of Rugar Woods to establish Clinton County records for several key woody invasive plant species.
    • Megan Ward (Summer 2010 - present): Status, causes and consequences of a new plant invasion in Rugar Woods (Mycelis muralis, wall-lettuce)
    • Steve Langdon (Completed May 2009): Eradication of the invasive aquatic European frogbit (Hydrocharis morus-ranae) from the Grasse River, Adirondack Park. Collaborator: Hilary Smith, The Nature Conservancy.
    • Jillian Post (Spring 2010): Preparation of voucher specimens from the Little Chazy River plant community survey for deposit in the SUNY Plattsburgh Herbarium.

Botanical Society of America Young Botanist Award Winners:

  • Jennifer Rushford, 2008
  • Meagan Lebeau, 2009
  • Jillian Post, 2010
  • Betty Lavoie, 2010

Contact Chrisopher Martine

Office: Beaumont Hall 401A
Phone: (518) 564-5277
E-mail: martinct@plattsburgh.edu